In the next day or so, Members of the Senate will vote on the critical amendment proposed by Senator Robert Menendez which would allow states the option to eliminate restrictive barriers that force legal immigrants to wait as long as five-years before becoming eligible for Medicaid.

Now it’s time to tell the Senate to finish what it started and vote YES on Senator Menendez’s amendment that would give states the choice to remove cumbersome restrictions that bar legal immigrants from access to quality, affordable health coverage.

Call Senators Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer TODAY and urge them to show their support for equitable health reform that gives states the choice to end restrictions on low-income, legal immigrants and join as co-sponsors of Senator Menendez’s amendment

Simply dial (toll-free) 1-877-264-4226 to be directed to Senators Feinstein and Boxer TODAY!

Because NOBODY should have to wait FIVE YEARS for health care!

Please note - due to overwhelming call-volume, the lines may be busy. If this happens to you, please try again later or let us know at hcan.ca@gmail.com.

Last week, Health Care for America Now - California and its partners hosted a special inter-faith procession through the streets of downtown San Francisco.

A very big Thanks to everyone who turned out and helped make this critical event a HUGE success.

Check out the coverage of the event on local SF Bay Area News below:

KGO-TV: Religious leaders march for health care reform

KTVU-TV: SAN FRANCISCO: Silent March Protests Elimination Of Public Option From Health Plan

See more pictures here.

Health Access Organizer, Nancy Gomez appeared on “Al Rojo Vivo con Maria Celeste” last week. The clip aired nationwide and in 15 countries. The piece focused on the Menendez amendment and the possibility of lifting the 5-year ban for legal permanent residents.

Debate in the Senate is picking up…meanwhile, the opposition (led by the shameless and unscrupulous private health insurance industry), is doing everything in its power to undermine our efforts to bring about real, meaningful reform that includes the choice of a STRONG public health insurance option.

But we as a people know that the monstrosity that is our nation’s current health care system has gone on for too long. Every year 45,000 Americans lose their lives because they lack access to quality, affordable health care.

That’s why Health Care for America Now - California (HCAN-CA) and our partners are organizing a massive inter-faith candlelight procession through the streets of downtown San Francisco this Thursday, December 10, beginning at 5:00 pm.

This event is to commemorate the lives of the tens of thousands of Americans who die every year due to the failures and inherent inadequacies of our current, broken health care system. We’ll also be sending a strong, united message to our leaders in Congress to let them know that now, more than ever before, America is counting on them to pass REAL health reform.

See below for event details:

WHAT: Interfaith Candlelight Procession for Health Care Reform

WHEN: Thursday, December 10 beginning at 5:00 pm

WHERE: Meet at Yerba Buena Gardens (Mission between 3rd & 4th). We’ll then be marching through the streets and converging on Union Square.

Please join us in solidarity as we remember the 45,000 Americans who die every year due to lack of access to health care!

Health Reform Action Alert!

On Tuesday (Dec. 8^th) Health Care for America Now - California (HCAN-CA) and our partners at MoveOn are hosting a series of events across the state in your communities to help keep the pressure on our Members of Congress to make sure they pass the strongest health reform bill possible before the year is out.

It’s absolutely imperative that the Senate passes real, meaningful reform that includes the choice of a strong public health insurance option before the end of the year. The cost of delay is too grave, and we as a country have far too much at stake to put this critical issue on the back burner.

This is especially true here in California - home to nearly 7 million people currently without health insurance.

It’s also vital that we continue to rally support around our champions in the House to make sure they know we’re behind them, and that we’re counting on them to stand strong for real reform that makes health care affordable for all Americans, includes the choice of strong public health insurance option and provisions ensuring employer responsibility.

See below for the event closest to you in your community! You can RSVP by clicking on the link underneath each event:

Irvine

WHAT: Cost of Delay Rally

WHEN: Tuesday, December 8^th at 5:30 pm

WHERE: Culver Drive and Walnut Avenue, Irvine, 14474 Culver Drive
Irvine, CA 92602

Click here to RSVP to the Irvine “Cost of Delay” Rally

Modesto

WHAT: Health Reform Rally (Voter registration, recruitment, education, distributing literature & sharing stories);

Vigil (street-theater, letter writing, petition signing and candle-light ceremony)

WHEN: Tuesday, December 8^th; Rally begins at 9:00 am; Vigil begins at 3:00 pm

WHERE: (Rally) 251 E. Hackett Rd., Modesto, CA; (Vigil) 1010 10th St., Modesto, CA

Click here to RSVP to the Modesto “Cost of Delay” Rally

West Los Angeles:

WHAT: Cost of Delay Rally and Vigil

WHEN: Tuesday, December 8^th at 5:00 pm

WHERE: Santa Monica Blvd. at Sepulveda, 11111 Santa Monica Blvd.
West L.A, CA 90025

Click here to RSVP to the W. Los Angeles “Cost of Delay” Rally

See you Tuesday!